Latest news with #MTU1010
Mint
12-05-2025
- Science
- Mint
This rice is set to make your meal climate-friendly
Earlier this month, India released the world's first genome-edited rice, a breakthrough that promises to retune its farm R&D space. The new varieties yield more using less water and are resilient to climate shocks. Mint explains why you must hold your plate and take note. Tell us more about these new varieties... These were released on 4 May by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which used genome editing (GE) to improve two rice cultivars—Samba Mahsuri and MTU1010. The project began in 2018. These advanced varieties can improve yields by up to 19% and are shorter-duration—they use less water and fertilizers. They emit less methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and overall have a lower carbon footprint. As per ICAR, the GE variants are more tolerant to drought, salinity and climate stresses. They can be grown across South, central and East India, as a sustainable choice for farmers in the era of climate crisis. Also Read | Can soil-less farming revive a Kashmiri rice variety on the verge of extinction? In what way is it designer rice? GE technology uses CRISPR-Cas, a protein that acts as molecular scissors to edit the DNA sequence of a genome. Editing a genome, which carries the genetic code of an organism, changes its character—a bit like rewriting the code of life. Using CRISPR-Cas, scientists can design or incorporate traits like increasing the number of grains on a plant. GE crops are different from genetically modified (GM) ones. In GM technology, a foreign DNA is inserted into plant genes. For example, genes from a soil bacterium were used to make Bt Cotton, the only GM crop allowed in India, to make it pest resistant. Also Read | Rice fortification can help tackle our problem of hidden hunger Can this technology be used for other crops? Yes. GE technology, it is hoped, will help India find a way out of its import dependency in pulses and oilseeds. ICAR is working on GE enhancement of these crops, for which the government has set aside ₹500 crore. Currently, India spends more than $20 billion every year to import pulses and oilseeds. By contrast, it is the world's largest exporter of rice. Also Read | Subsidies and MSP:It makes most sense for farmers to keep growing rice and wheat Are GE crops safe to consume? Scientists say GE crops pose only a marginal risk to human health and environment, and are as good as normally bred crops, which involve crossing plants. GE is more precise and a faster way to achieve results. The Coalition for GM-Free India has criticised the government's deregulation of GE techniques (compared with GM, which is tightly regulated), and alleged that the new varieties were released without any safety assessment. Experts say activists oppose gene technologies on the basis of speculative risks. Is the CRISPR tool globally accepted? Scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna received the 2020 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing CRISPR-Cas. The Nobel committee said GE can be used for cancer therapies, hereditary diseases and develop innovative crops. GE has been used to create soy oil that can be stored for longer, reducing the use of chemical preservatives. GE was also used to make high-GABA tomato, which claims to lower blood pressure and improve sleep. But repurposing food as medicine may not be to everybody's taste.
Mint
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
In response to GM crop controversy, India develops climate-resilient genome-edited rice
Government scientists appear to have found an alternative to contentious genetically modified (GM) crops with the launch of two genome-edited varieties of rice—a key staple and export. The main difference between genome-edited and GM crops is that the former involves modifying the plant's own genes, while GM crops involve insertion of genes from external sources. The launch of these genome-edited rice varieties follows the Supreme Court directing the government to formulate a national policy on genetically modified crops—covering research, cultivation, trade, and commerce—through public consultation. This is currently underway and yet to be finalized. According to agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, these are the world's first-ever genome-edited rice varieties. Both are expected to yield 20–30% more than conventional rice seeds and mature 20 days earlier, leading to significant water-use savings. In addition to being climate-resilient, these varieties are also projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (methane) by 20%, Chouhan said. The technology has the potential to be replicated in other crops too for higher yields, climate resilience and improved quality. 'This is just the beginning. The government is actively developing several more genome-edited seed varieties for other crops,' Chouhan added while announcing the two varieties at ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)-IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute) in New Delhi. Under the budget announcement 2023-24, the government has allocated ₹ 500 crore for genome editing agricultural crops. Currently research programmes on genome editing have been initiated in over three dozens crops and including oilseeds, pulses, wheat, maize, tomato, mustard, banana, soybean, sunflower and sesamum. Work on mustard seeds is at an advanced stage. "Increasing food demand, global climate change and increasing biotic and abiotic stresses necessitate the development of high yielding, climate resilient and nutritionally rich crop varieties. Genome editing has emerged as a new breeding technology for precision mutagenesis to create improved varieties in a shorter period," said Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Director General (DG) of ICAR. ICAR initiated genome editing research in rice in 2018. Two popular varieties, Samba Mahsuri (BPT5204) and MTU1010 (Cottondora Sannalu) grown across Indian states in more than nine million hectares, were selected for genome editing. The new variety DRR Dhan 100 (KAMALA), a high yielding variety of Samba Mahsuri, recorded an average yield of 5.37 tonnes per hectare as against 4.5 tons per hectare of its parent variety. It has a yield potential of around 9 tonnes per hectare and matures in 130 days (15-20 days earlier than Samba Mahsuri). Similarly, the other genome variety 'PUSA DST Rice 1' has an average yield of 3.5 tonnes per hectare more than the parent rice variety. This variety has been developed for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. According to ICAR, cultivation of these varieties in about 5 million hectares of the recommended area will produce 4.5 million tonnes of additional paddy, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 32,000 and save 7,500 million cubic metres of irrigation water, which can be used for other crops. First Published: 4 May 2025, 09:57 PM IST
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Genome-edited seeds to mark beginning of second green revolution: Chouhan
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Sunday (May 4, 2025), announced the development of two genome-edited rice varieties and said the technological advancement would lead to a second green revolution in the country. The new varieties would be made available to farmers within four to five years, he said. 'After the laboratory cultivation, breeder seeds will be developed, and after multiplying breeder seeds, certified seeds will be given to farmers. The process generally takes four to five years. We are trying to reduce this time,' he said, speaking to reporters after an event at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to felicitate the scientists involved in the development of the new seeds. He said the country's vision for a developed nation was being realised, and farmers were moving towards prosperity. 'Today's achievement will be written in golden letters. During the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called upon farmers to adopt modern techniques to overcome agricultural challenges. Inspired by his words, ICAR scientists have made exceptional achievements in the field of agriculture with the creation of these new varieties,' he said and added that the development of these new crops would not only enhance production but also yield positive results in environmental terms. 'It will save irrigation water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby lowering environmental pressure. This is a classic example of getting both benefits – increased production and environmental conservation,' the Union Agriculture Minister said. He told the reporters that the innovative approach would mark the beginning of the second green revolution. Mr. Chouhan added that the coming years would see the need for ensuring food security, increasing nutritious production, and providing food for both India and the world, while making India the food basket of the world. ICAR Director-General M.L. Jat said demand-driven research should be promoted, adding that there was a need to gather feedback from farmers about their specific requirements. 'This approach will ensure that research outcomes are tailored to meet the needs of farmers and effectively reach them with the right solutions,' he said. About 13 scientists, including Vishwanathan C, Gopal Krishnan S, Santosh Kumar, Shivani Nagar, Archana Vats, Satyendra Kumar Mangruthia, R.M. Sundaram, R. Abdul Fiyaz and C.N. Neerja, were honoured for their contribution to the development of the rice varieties. 'These new varieties were developed using genome-editing technology based on CRISPR-Cas, which makes precise changes in the organism's genetic material without adding foreign DNA. Genome editing of SDN 1 and SDN 2 types of genes has been approved under India's biosafety regulations for general crops. In 2018, ICAR initiated genome-editing research to improve two major rice varieties – Samba Mahsuri and MTU 1010 – under the National Agricultural Science Fund. The outcome of this research is the two advanced varieties that offer the following benefits such as 19% increase in yield, 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, saving of 7,500 million cubic meters of irrigation water and improved tolerance to drought, salinity, and climate stresses,' the ICAR said in a statement.
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Business Standard
04-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India releases genome-edited rice varieties to boost yields by up to 30%
In a significant development, India today released two new genome-edited varieties of rice—for the first time globally—that promise to boost per hectare yields by up to 30 per cent and mature 15–20 days earlier than existing varieties. 'The rice varieties (called 'Kamala – DRR Dhan-100' and 'Pusa DST Rice 1') will consume less water and thereby also help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the environment,' Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said. The varieties will take at least four to five years to reach farmers after they complete the usual cycle of breeder, foundation and certified seeds. 'We are trying to quicken this as well so that farmers can get the benefit of these high-yielding varieties at the earliest,' Chouhan said. A fundamental difference between genetically modified crops and gene-edited ones is that in the former, the final product (such as Bt cotton) contains foreign genes, while in gene-edited plants, no foreign gene is introduced. India, a few years back, exempted SDN1 and SDN2 genome-edited plants from Rules 7–11 of the Environment Protection Act for the manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous micro-organisms or genetically engineered organisms or cells (Rules, 1989), thereby bringing them outside the ambit of GEAC rules. SDN1, SDN2 and SDN3 are three methods of genome editing in crops. The new paddy variants released today use the SDN1 and SDN2 methods. The central government had allocated ₹500 crore for genome editing in agricultural crops in its 2023–24 Union Budget. Compared to genetic modification, gene editing is a relatively new field. 'Apart from paddy, there are almost 24 other food crops and 15 horticulture crops which are in various stages of gene editing and should be released in due course,' said ICAR Director General Dr Mangi Lal Jat. He added that India will apply for IPR registration of the new varieties immediately. Initially, the genome-edited seeds will be distributed through state-run firms. ICAR initiated a genome editing research project in rice in 2018 under its 'National Agricultural Science Fund'. First, scientists selected two widely cultivated mega rice varieties—'Samba Mahsuri (BPT5204)' and 'MTU1010 (Cottondora Sannalu)'—which together are grown across more than nine million hectares in India. Samba Mahsuri is known for its fine grain quality and premium market value, but it lacked climate resilience. With moderate yields of 4–5 tonnes per hectare, a long maturation period of 145–150 days, incomplete panicle emergence, and vulnerability to pests, diseases and climate stress, the variety presented a clear case for improvement. MTU1010, on the other hand, is a high-yielding, early-duration variety (125–130 days) well-suited for Rabi season cultivation in southern India, but it too suffered from sensitivity to drought and soil salinity. Through genome editing, ICAR scientists enhanced these varieties—Samba Mahsuri and MTU1010—with better stress tolerance, improved yield and climate adaptability, without compromising their existing strengths, and developed the new varieties 'Kamala' (DRR Dhan-100) and 'Pusa DST Rice 1'. Large-scale field trials showed DRR Dhan-100 (Kamala) had a 19 per cent yield improvement over Samba Mahsuri, recording an average yield of 5.37 tonnes per hectare compared to 4.5 tonnes per hectare for its parent. Not only that, 'Kamala' also retained the same grain and cooking quality that has made Samba Mahsuri a consumer favourite. Similarly, Pusa DST Rice 1 showed a 9–30 per cent yield advantage compared to its parent variant, depending on the soil type. Kamala is recommended for cultivation in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala (Zone VII), Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Zone V), Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal (Zone III). Pusa DST Rice 1 is also recommended for use in the same zones and states. Meanwhile, Venugopal Badaravada, a farmers' representative and member of the ICAR Governing Body—who has been a vocal critic of the premier research body—said ICAR's genome-edited rice claims are premature and misleading. He said farmers demand accountability, transparent data and technologies that are tested in their fields, not just polished in press releases. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said that, starting from the forthcoming Kharif sowing season, scientists from various ICAR institutes, along with the Krishi Vigyan Kendras, will spend 15 days with farmers twice a year to explain various new research initiatives. Chouhan said this attempt to bridge the gap between 'lab to land' will be carried out biannually, with efforts made to hold at least three meetings per day by the scientists. 'Our target is to reach all the farmers across the country in the next three to four years,' said Dr Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
ICAR to launch two genome edited rice varieties
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has successfully developed two genome edited rice varieties, which will be formally announced in New Delhi on Sunday (May 4, 2025) by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The ICAR said the development of such seeds was 'first-ever such achievement' in the country using cutting-edge genome editing technology. The first variety, named as DRR Dhan 100 Kamala, was developed from a popular high yielding green rice Samba Mahsuri and the second variety is from Maharashtra Technology University 1010 (MTU1010), which is also widely used by farmers across the country. The new variety developed from Samba Mahsuri can be harvested 15-20 days ahead of its original. The yield is almost 25% more, which is about eight tonnes more per hectare. Each panicle of the paddy will give 450 to 500 more grains in this variety than the original crop. 'This is climate-friendly as this variety uses water and minerals judiciously. This is tolerant to increase in temperature too,' a source in ICAR said. The variety can be cultivated by direct seeding method too. Named as Pusa DST Rice 1, the variety developed from MTU1010 is a 'salinity tension tolerant' crop. When cultivated under areas that have national average of salinity, the new variety produced 9.66% additional yield than MTU1010. Similarly, in alkaline conditions, the new variety gave 14.66% more yield than its original and under 'salinity tension' conditions, the yield of the new variety was 30.36%.
